Lighting fixture



Sept. 28, 1965 W. NlEDER-WESTERMANN LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 10, 1963United States Patent 3,209,141 LIGHTING FIXTURE WinfriedNieder-Westermann, Parma, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, East Iittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledMay 10, 1963, Ser. No. 279,371 12 Claims. ((31. 24051.11)

This invention relates, generally, to lighting fixtures and, moreparticularly, to means for retaining fluorescent lampholders in lightingfixtures.

Nearly all fluorescent lampholders heretofore available for use withfluorescent lighting fixtures are mounted in the fixture by means ofscrews and nuts. The foregoing assembly has certain disadvantages, oneof which is the time required to assemble the lampholder in the fixture,which increases the cost. Another disadvantage is that it requires anobjectionably deep wire channel in order to have the space necessary forreplacing the lampholder in the field.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a lampholder andmounting plate assembly which does not require threaded means forretaining the parts of the assembly together.

Another object of the invention is to provide for re taining alampholder and mounting plate in assembled relationship by frictionalmeans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frictionally heldlocking plate for retaining a lampholder in a mounting plate. Stillanother object of the invention is to provide a mounting plate, alampholder and a locking plate which can be assembled and disassembledwithout the aid of tools.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mounting plateand lampholder assembly which is simple and eflicient in operation andwhich may be economically manufactured and installed.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a mounting plate forsupporting a lampholder has a generally rectangular opening therein inwhich the lampholder is retained by means of a locking plate slidablydisposed in a depressed area in the mounting plate adjoining one end ofthe opening. The locking plate is retained by a pair of raised dimpleson the surface of the depressed area. A projection on the locking plateextends into a recess in the lampholder and additional projections atcorners of the locking plate extend under edges of the mounting plate atopposite sides of the opening. Also, a projection on a rear wall of themounting plate engages the lampholder. Thus, the lampholder isfrictionally retained in the opening. The locking plate may be releasedby forcing it outwardly over the dimples.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, in perspective, of a portion of a fluorescent lampfixture having lampholders retained in the fixture in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, in perspective, showing the manner ofassembling one of the lampholders in the supporting member;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly shown in section, illustrating thesupporting member or mounting plate and an alternative embodiment of thelampholder prior to sliding same into a locked position, and

FIG. 4 is a view, in perspective, showing the manner in which thelampholder is retained in the supporting member.

Referring to the drawings, the portion of a lighting fixture shown inFIGURE 1 comprises a wiring channel 10, two fluorescent lamps 11, alampholder 12 for each one of the lamps 11, and a supporting member ormounting plate 13 for the lampholders 12. The supporting members 13 maybe utilized as an end plate or closure for the end of the wiring channel10.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the supporting member or mountingplate 13 comprises a bottom wall 14, a rear wall 15 and two side walls16, only one of which is shown in the present drawing. A generallyrectangular opening 17 is provided in the bottom wall 14 for each one ofthe lampholders 12. Since the mounting arrangement for each lampholderis the same, the details for only one lampholder are shown anddescribed. The mounting plate 13 may be formed in one piece from sheetsteel. During the stamping or forming operation a depressed area 18 isprovided adjoining the front end of the opening 17. Two spaced raiseddimples 19 are provided on the upper surface of the depressed area 18.

It will be noted that the longest dimension of the depressed area 18 isgreater than the width of the rectangular opening 17. Thus, an openingor notch 21 at each side of the opening 17 provides access to the bottomside of the plate 14 at the edges of the opening 17. An inwardlyextending lance or projection 22 is also provided on the rear wall 15during the forming of the mounting plate 13.

As also shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the lampholder 12, which may beformed of porcelain or other suitable insulating material, is providedwith a shoulder 23 at the top of each side of the lampholder. A raisedportion 24 is provided at the top of the rear end of the lampholder 12.An opening 25 is provided in a raised portion 26 at the front end of thelampholder 12. A notch 27 is provided underneath each shoulder 23 at afront end of the holder 12. An opening 28 is also provided in the frontend of a lampholder for receiving a contact member of a fluorescent lamp11, which may be of a type having only one contact member at each end ofthe lamp. It will be understood that lampholders suitable forfluorescent lamps of other types may be provided, such as those whichutilize two contact pins at each end of the lamp. The necessaryelectrical contact members are provided inside the lampholder 12.

As is shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 the lampholder 12 may be assembled in thesupporting member or mounting plate 13 by placing the lampholder 12 inthe opening 17 with the shoulders 23 resting upon opposite edges 29 ofthe plate 14 at the sides of the opening 17. The lampholder 12 isretained in the opening 17 by means of a locking plate 31 which is shownmost clearly in FIGURE 2. As shown, the locking plate 31 is generallyrectangular in shape and it may be formed from sheet steel. The lockingplate 31 has a raised portion 32 intermediate the ends of the plate. Alaterally extending projection 33 is provided on the raised portion 32.A projection 34 is provided at each one of the two corners of one sideof the plate 31. The projections 34 are preferably bent downwardlyslightly as shown in FIGURE 2 to facilitate engagement thereof with theundersides of the edges 29 of the rectangular opening 17 adjacent themounting plate notches 21.

After the holder 22 is placed in the opening 17, it is moved to the rearwith the raised portion 24 disposed underneath the projection 22 on therear wall 15. The projection 33 on the locking plate 31 is then insertedinto the opening 25 and the lampholder and the projections 34 on theplate 31' are inserted into the spaces or notches 21 underneath theedges 29 of the plate 14 at the sides of the openings 17. The plate 31is moved inwardly over the dimples 19 by applying pressure on the raiseda portion 32 of the plate 31. As shown in FIGURE 4, the plate 31 isinserted to a position between the dimples 19 and the front end of thelampholder 12. In this position the projection 33 is inserted into theopening to prevent the lampholder from being raised out of the opening17, since the rear end of the lampholder engages the projection 22 onthe rear wall 15. The front end of the lampholder cannot be raised sincethe projections 34 on the plate 31 are disposed in the notches 27underneath the edges 29 of the mounting plate 14. In this manner, thelampholder 12 is retained in the supporting member 13.

If it is desired to remove the lampholder from the supporting member 13,the lampholder may be moved forwardly in the opening 17 by applyingsufficient force at the rear of the lampholder to cause the lockingplate 17 to ride up over the dimples 19. In this manner the projections34 on the plate 31 are moved out from under the edges 29 of the plate 14and the raised portion 24 of the lampholder is moved out from under theprojection 22 on the rear wall 15. The lampholder 12 may then be raisedout of the opening 17. Thus, the lampholder 12 with supporting member 13and with locking plate 31 is readily assembled and disassembled withoutthe aid of tools.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative preferred embodiment according to theinvention, wherein the locking plate 31 is secured through opening 25 inthe raised portion 26 of the lampholder 12, by deforming the projection33 at the end thereof. In this arrangement it is necessary that theopening 17 be of sufiicient length for the projections 34 on the plate31 to clear the sides 29 of the opening 17 adjacent the spaces ornotches 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the lampholder 12, with locking plate 31secured thereto, is inserted into the opening 17. The plate 31 rides ontop of the dimples 19 in the depressed area 18. As the lampholderassembly is urged rearwardly (indicated by an arrow), with the shoulders23 resting on the sides 29 of the opening 17, the projections 34 engagethe sides 29 forcing the assembly into frictional engagement with themounting plate 13. The raised portion 24 slides under the projection orlance 22 on the rear wall 15, and thus the lampholder 12 is secured inplace without screws or bolts. In this embodiment the lance 22 is notactually necessary if a full end plate is used, whereby a flushengagement of the rear wall of the lampholder 12 with a full end platewould be sufiicient to retain the lampholder 12 in place. Furthermore,in lieu of the lance 22, a tab (not shown) may be used to engage anopening, similar to opening 25, in the raised portion 24 of thelampholder 12. Disengagement of the lampholder 12 would be identical tothat of the first embodiment, as described in the preceding paragraph.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the inventionprovides for mounting a fluorescent lampholder in a lighting fixturewithout requiring threaded means or other devices which require the useof tools during the assembling operation. The lampholder may also beremoved from its supporting member without the aid of tools. Themounting plate 13 and the locking plate 31 may be readily formed in amanner well known in the art. The supporting member 13 and thelampholder 12 may be installed in a relatively shallow wiring channel orother parts of a lighting fixture.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described construction,and additional embodiments of the invention may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all thematter contained in the foregoing description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in alimiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A support for a lampholder, said support comprising, a mounting platehaving an opening therein, a lampholder disposed in said opening, adepressed area adjoining one side of the opening, a raised dimple on thesurface of the depressed area, and a locking means disposed between thedimple and the lampholder and engaging the lampholder and the mountingplate at opposite sides of the opening to retain the lampholder in theopening.

2. A support for a lampholder, said support comprising, a mounting platehaving an opening therein, a lampholder disposed in said opening, adepressed area adjoining one side of the opening, a raised dimple on thesurface of the depressed area, locking means in engagement with thelampholder and slidably disposed in the depressed area between thedimple and the lampholder, and said locking means engaging edges of themounting plate at opposite sides of the opening to retain the lampholderin the opening.

3. A support for a lampholder, said support compris ing, a mountingplate having an opening therein, a lampholder disposed in said opening,a depressed area adjoining one side of the opening, a raised dimple onthe surface of the depressed area, a locking plate slidably disposed inthe depressed area between the dimple and the lampholder, said lockingplate engaging said lampholder, and the ends of said locking plate beingdisposed underneath edges of the mounting plate at opposite sides of theopening to retain the lampholder in the opening.

4. A support for a lampholder, said support compris ing, a mountingplate having an opening therein, a lampholder disposed in said opening,a depressed area adjoining one side of the opening, a raised dimple onthe surface of the depressed area, a locking plate slidably disposed inthe depressed area between the dimple and the lampholder, said lockingplate engaging said lampholder and said locking plate having projectionsthereon extending underneath edges of the mounting plate at oppositesides of the opening to retain the lampholder in the opening.

5. A support for a lampholder, said support comprising, a mounting platehaving an opening therein, a lampholder disposed in said opening, adepressed area adjoining one side of the opening, a raised dimple on thesurface of the depressed area, a locking plate slidably disposed in thedepressed area between the dimple and the lampholder, a projection onthe locking plate engaging the lampholder, and additional projections onthe locking plate extending underneath opposite edges of the mountingplate at sides of the opening to retain the lampholder in the opening.

6. In combination, a supporting member having a bottom wall and a rearwall disposed at substantially a right angle to the bottom wall with agenerally rectangular opening in the bottom wall, a projection on therear wall above said opening, a depressed area in the bottom walladjoining the front end of the opening, two spaced raised dimples on thesurface of the depressed area, a lampholder disposed in the opening andengaging the projection on the rear wall, a generally rectangularlocking plate slidably disposed in the depressed area between thelampholder and said dimples, and projections 0n the locking plateextending underneath edges of the bottom wall at opposite sides of theopennig to retain the lampholder in the opening.

7. In combination, a supporting member having a bottom wall and a rearwall disposed at substantially a right angle to the bottom wall with agenerally rectangular opening in the bottom wall, a projection on therear wall above said opening, a depressed area in the bottom walladjoining the front end of the opening, two spaced raised dimples on thesurface of the depressed area, a generally rectangular lampholderdisposed in the opening and engaging the projection on the rear Wall,said lampholder having a recess in the front Side thereof, a generallyrectangular locking plate slidably disposed in the depressed areabetween the lampholder and said dimples, a projection on one side of thelocking plate extending into the recess in the lampholder, and the endsof the locking plate extending underneath the edges of the bottom wallat the sides of the opening to retain the lampholder in the opening.

8. In combination, a supporting member having a bottom wall and a rearwall disposed at substantially a right angle to the bottom wall with agenerally rectangular opening in the bottom wall, a projection on therear wall above said opening, a depressed area in the bottom walladjoining the front end of the opening, two spaced raised dimples on thesurface of the depressed area, a generally rectangular lampholderdisposed in the opening and engaging the projection on the rear wall,said lampholder having a recess in the front side thereof, a generallyrectangular locking plate slidably disposed in the depressed areabetween the lampholder and said dimples, said looking plate having araised portion intermediate its ends, a projection extending laterallyfrom said raised portion into the recess in the lampholder, and the endsof the locking plate extending underneath edges of bottom wall atopposite sides of the opening to retain the lampholder in the opening.

9. In combination, a supporting member having a bottom wall and a rearwall disposed at substantially a right angle to the bottom Wall with agenerally rectangular opening in the bottom wall, a projection on therear wall above said opening, a depressed area in the bottom walladjoining the front end of the opening, two spaced raised dimples on thesurface of the depressed area, a generally rectangular lampholderdisposed in the opening and engaging the projection on the rear wall,said lampholder having a recess in the front side thereof, a generallyrectangular locking plate slidably disposed in the depressed areabetween the lampholder and said dimples, said locking plate having araised portion intermediate its ends, a projection extending laterallyfrom said raised portion into the recess in the lampholder, andadditional projec tions extending from corners of the locking plateunderneath edges of the bottom wall at opposite sides of the opening toretain the lampholder in the opening.

10. In combination, a supporting member having a bottom wall and a rearwall disposed at substantially a right angle to the bottom wall with agenerally rectangular opening in the bottom wall, a projection on therear wall above said opening, a depressed area in the bottom walladjoining the front end of the opening, two spaced raised dimples on thesurface of the depressed area, a generally rectangular lampholderdisposed in the opening and engaging the projection on the rear wall,said lampholder having a recess in the front side thereof, a generallyrectangular locking plate slidably disposed in the depressed areabetween the lampholder and said dimples, a projection on one side of thelocking plate extending into the recess in the lampholder, and the endsof the locking plate extending underneath the edges of the bottom wallat the sides of the opening to retain the lampholder in the opening, andsaid locking plate being removable to release the lampholder by forcingthe plate over said dimples.

11. A lampholder support assembly comprising:

(a) a generally L-shaped section mounting plate having a generallyrectangular opening in the lower leg thereof;

(b) a lampholder of such a width to be insertable within saidrectangular opening, said lampholder having projecting means fromopposite sides thereof adjacent the top portion thereof abutting againstsaid mounting plate adjacent the opening therein to limit the insertionof said lampholder;

(0) stop means on the other leg of said mounting plate and frictionallyengaging an upwardly disposed portion of the lampholder to limit upwardmotion thereof; and

(d) a separate and removable locking member frictionally engaging thelower leg of said mounting plate adjacent said opening and mating Withcomplementally formed portions of said lampholder, and said stop meansand said locking member securing said lampholder to said mounting plate.

12. A lampholder support assembly comprising:

(a) a generally L-shaped section mounting plate having a cut-out portionin the lower leg thereof;

(b) a lampholder of such a width to be insertable within said cut-outportion, said lampholder having opposed shoulder means adjacent theupper portion thereof abutting said mounting plate adjacent said cut-outportion;

(c) stop means on the other leg of said mounting plate and frictionallyengaging an upwardly disposed portion of the lampholder to limit upwardmotion thereof; and

(d) a separate and removable locking member engaging said lampholder,said locking member having projections at the outer edges thereof, andsaid projections protruding inwardly toward the other leg of saidmounting plate and located beneath said shoulder means to frictionallyengage the under surface of said mounting plate adjacent said cut-outportion, and an additional projection on said locking member engaging acomplementally formed opening on said lampholder to secure saidlampholder to said mounting plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,465,326 3/49Lepore 24052 2,563,146 8/51 Wise 2405l.11 2,744,185 5/56 Cawley 24052NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUPPORT FOR A LAMPHOLDER, SAID SUPPORT COMPRISING; MOUNTING PLATEHAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A LAMPHOLDER DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING, ADEPRESSED AREA ADJOINING ONE SIDE OF THE OPENING, A RAISE DIMPLE ON THESURFACE OF THE DEPRESSED AREA, AND A LOCKING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THEDIMPLE AND THE LAMPHOLDER AND ENGAGEMENT THE LAMPHOLDER AND THE MOUNTINGPLATE AT OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE OPENING TO RETAIN THE LAMPHOLDER IN THEOPENING.